Rare Spanish Coin Unearthed

The 'tails' side of a Spanish piece-of-eight PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

It was not the first time, Val Guarino, president of the Southington Conservation Land Trust, had taken his metal detector out on Land Trust properties to see what he could find. Often enough he came home empty-handed; occasionally he would find a something interesting, like an old tool. "I once found a metal file," he remarked. "That was about it."

Two weeks ago, however, his search led to the discovery of something special. He was sweeping an area that had recently been exposed by mowing. The detector made its characteristic ping, indicating that it sensed metal underground. Digging down a few inches, Guarino found a silvery disc about the size of a poker chip. He rubbed off some of the dirt and realized that he had found a coin.

Removing the rest of the dirt revealed lettering. Circling a worn and damaged silhouette on the 'heads' side of the coin were the letters DEI GRATIA 1800 CAROLVS IIII, which is Latin for 'By the grace of God, 1800, Charles/Carlos the Fourth."

The 'heads' side

On the 'tails' side (see the headline photo) was an elaborate coat of arms flanked by two pillars and surrounded by the letters HISPAN ET IND REX M 8R FM.

The first four words are short for Hispaniarum et Indiarum Rex, which means 'King of Spain and the Indies' in Latin. In other words, this was a Spanish coin. Finally, the 8R clinched the identification of the piece: it stands for 'eight Reales', and indicates that the coin was what characters in pirate movies refer to when they mention 'pieces of eight.'

The significance of the number 1800 is thus obvious: it is the year when the coin was minted - over two centuries ago, when Southington was a mere 21 years old.

But what do the other letters stand for? And what was this coin doing in Southington in the first place? For more information on the piece, the Outsider reached out to Dave Wnuck. Wnuck is a coin dealer with an expertise in early American coins, and the founder of Dave Wnuck Numismatics in Wallingford. He graciously shared the following information on Guarino's find.

"What you found is an 1800-Mo FM 8 Reales. The 'M' stands for Mexico City, where the coin was minted."

"'FM' are the initials of the assayer at the Mexico City mint. This is the person ultimately responsible to make sure the coins made at the mint under his direction had the proper amount of silver in each coin."

"The coin was legal tender in Southington (and the rest of America) and circulated alongside the US coins being minted at the Philadelphia mint. In fact, all foreign coins were legal tender in the US until 1857."

"We were not a wealthy nation in 1800 by any means, so we didn't/couldn't make enough coins for daily transactions throughout the young nation. So, a Southington resident in 1800 was much more likely to have a foreign coin in their pocket than a coin made in the USA, especially coins from Mexico. The Mexican 8 reales was the US Dollar of its day, and preferred by most countries in the world for trade purposes."

"In 1800, a Mexican 8 reales coin - commonly known as a Spanish dollar or 'piece of eight' - had a spending power equivalent to one United States dollar. A single 8 reales coin represented significant value, as a dollar in 1800 was equivalent to about $20 to $30 in 2026 purchasing power. In the US around 1800, one Spanish dollar could buy either 6 pounds of butter, 1 bushel of wheat, 4 quarts of whiskey, 2.5 bushels of corn, or 300 pounds of hay."

"The 8 reales coin was equal to eight 'bits' or reals, and was often split into smaller pieces to make change, which is the origin of the term "two bits" for a quarter."

"The US Dollar was directly based on this Spanish coin, and the Spanish dollar was the primary currency for trade. The '$' symbol is believed to be derived from the S-shaped banner wrapped around the Pillars of Hercules on the coin's design."

As for the location of the discovery, Guarino is keeping that confidential in order to prevent a swarm of treasure-seekers from descending on the property. In fact, this coin was an isolated find, which means that it probably slipped out of someone's purse two-centuries ago, rather than being part of a buried horde.

After all those years in the cold dirt, the coin will now have a nicer home - though Guarino has not yet decided whether that will be the Land Trust office or the Southington Historical Society.

Val Guarino on a Land Trust property with brush trimmers

Big Turnout for School Advocates at Budget Hearing

A full house in the Assembly Room PETER PROHASKA PHOTOS

By 6:45pm Monday night, drivers were running out of places to park near Southington’s John Weichsel Municipal Center. Inside the assembly room, it was already standing room only. Once the public hearing got underway, Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky announced that the fire marshal had been notified about the crowd. A few people moved into the vestibule, while others stood aside to keep fire exits clear.

The crowd, which appeared to be close to the 140 people the room is allowed to hold, was mostly present to send a message: a reduction of the proposed schools budget was not going to be accepted quietly. About thirty students, educators, parents and other community members stepped to the podium to argue against a $1.6 million reduction recommended by the Board of Finance; only two spoke about the effect of higher taxes on residents who would struggle to pay. Recognizing the strong feelings of the attendees, the Council voted in favor of Chaplinsky’s suggestion that the hearing be kept open while they consider how best to address what he called a “difficult” budget season.

Many speakers returned to a common set of points. Several spoke of the ways in which a budget reflects the “values” held by a community. Several echoed the Superintendent's warning that budget cuts would mean personnel reductions for as many as 22 people, especially in positions like literacy specialists and para-educators. They said that cuts would lead to larger class sizes, more stress for teachers, and worse outcomes for students, especially those in need of extra help. Lack of class options, including career-oriented vocational learning, would also negatively impact students.

One consequence of these changes, several residents said, would be a teacher exodus caused by burnout or the lure of better conditions elsewhere; fewer people might choose Southington as a place to live and raise families, which would lower property values. Such a cycle, it was suggested, could create a spiral from which a community might struggle to exit.

Other speakers warned that cuts might cause schools to fall out of compliance with state mandates. Cuts would impact students who qualify for Individualized Education Programs or other assistance and could lead to loss of grants. Failure to comply could mean even less state funding in the future - an especially important consideration as Southington voters decide this fall whether to fund the elementary schools project.

Colleen Clark, who sits on the Board of Education, kicked off the comment session by calling Superintendent Steve Madancy’s budget "as lean and transparent as can be,” and argued for fully funding the budget that her Board approved. A fellow Board member, Joseph Baczewski, echoed that, saying that the proposed reduction would send a message that his organization’s work is “worthless in your eyes.”

Though the crowd clapped after each speaker finished, the loudest applause of the evening was reserved for Ryan King, a student at John F. Kennedy Middle School. He had gone from needing extra literacy support earlier in his school career to carrying an A in Language Arts, he said. King spoke of the need to “disagree respectfully,” as he made a case against proposed cuts to staff members who help students like him. As for the suggestion of “pay-to-play” that could offset some of the athletics budget, he pointed out that not every family could afford those extra fees. Middle school athletics, King argued, is where students begin to make life-long friends in addition to learning skills. The most important reason for the Town to invest in the education budget, said King, is that “we’re the future generation of Southington.”

Students help lead the Pledge of Allegiance

Once the public hearing section of the meeting ended and the room had nearly emptied out, the Council still had its regular business to consider. Councilor Tony Morrison reported from the Ordinance Committee that it was still considering what to do about a noise ordinance, since it has come to light that the existing one is not enforceable because it lacks approval from the state. Another ordinance that would target the many small signs that Morrison said “litter” Southington’s landscape is also being considered. Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said he personally picks up many of them for disposal.

The Ordinance Committee also moved to consider cost recovery for fire services by bringing the issue to the full Council.

School finances appeared on the agenda again when Ricciardone reported on a recent meeting in Hartford involving legislators and the School and State Finance Project, a non-profit that seeks to address educational funding shortfalls in the state. The issue of ECS, education cost sharing, affects most districts in Connecticut, since the formula used to disperse funds for education hasn’t changed since 2013, per Ricciardone. This might be changing soon, he said, to help communities like Southington that are in the midst of hard budget decisions regarding school expenses. As Councilman David Zoni remarked, “It’s an election year, so I think that we got a good shot.”

Ricciardone also addressed a comment made earlier in the meeting regarding the Manager’s contingency fund, usually $1 million. That has dwindled this year to around $20,000, primarily due to ice and snow removal expenses during a tough winter. He pointed out that having money that can be shifted as needed — usually with Board of Finance and Town Council approval — without affecting departmental budgets is standard practice for towns like Southington.

A tax abatement was also unanimously approved for American General Investors, a company putting in a new building on a vacant parcel in the economic development zone. Town Manager Alex Ricciardone said the company would be creating around 26 jobs. Though the seven-year abatement is 100% for two years, that drops off to 50% in year three.

After more than three hours the night was not yet over for Council members and other officials, who entered executive session to discuss litigation matters.

The next meeting of Town Council is scheduled for May 11, when a final vote on the budget is expected.

American History Passes through a Local Tavern

A reconstruction of a room in Asa Barnes' tavern, based on list of items that Barnes owned. IMAGES COURTESY OF CHRISTINA VOLPE

Christina Volpe, Director of Southington’s Barnes Museum, is enthusiastic about sharing her love and knowledge of local history with the community. The author, curator and educator has picked a good point in history to carry out her work. With the America 250 celebration picking up steam in towns across the United States, including Southington, and with works like Ken Burns’s recent PBS documentary The American Revolution opening up more topics for debate, a growing desire on the part of the public to understand the country’s origins is evident. On the evening of April 21, Kinsmen Brewing Company hosted Volpe in its Clark Hall for a public talk mixing beer, pizza, and a crash course in how the Revolution unfolded in the area.

As Volpe put it, America has been characterized by a “dichotomy” from its early days. While today that might take the form of Team Red vs. Team Blue, at the time it was Patriots seeking a free America vs. Tories still loyal to the British Crown. That split played out in early Southington as well, with some residents fighting for the American cause and others retaining allegiance to the Crown. Prior to the Revolution, timber was harvested from Connecticut forests, such as the woods around Crescent Lake, to serve as ship masts for the Royal Navy in its wars against Spain. Those that profited from cooperation with Britain weren’t always keen to defy one of the world’s preeminent military and imperial powers.

But once Southington officially became a Town in 1779, several prominent residents declared their allegiance to the American project. Among them was tavern-keeper Asa Barnes, whose hospitality became internationally recognized and celebrated, making the modern pub a perfect spot for this event.

Volpe explained that, as the fighting intensified in the colonies, Benjamin Franklin went to France with the hope of securing military assistance for the Continental Army. King Louis XVI offered the services of  Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, the Count of Rochambeau, for what was called the “Particular Expedition.” Rochambeau, for whom a local strip mall is now named, possessed a military expertise from several French wars that proved pivotal in defeating British forces on behalf of Americans.

“To understand history, you have to touch it sometimes,” Volpe said. To that end, she brought with her a rifle from the era, which would have been carried along with other necessaries of wartime as soldiers marched through the Connecticut countryside in the summer heat. Rochambeau’s forces were on their way from Providence to Yorktown, Virginia, to lend their numbers to one of the Revolution’s crucial campaigns.

The tavern provided a merry scene, according to Volpe, with a cotillion dance for the “prettiest” young ladies of town and soldiers to enjoy. So memorable was the experience that Rochambeau returned on his way home in the fall of 1782 to drink again with Asa Barnes as the country was on the cusp of victory. While Asa Barnes was “too old and portly” to carry a rifle himself, his support for the troops surely helped during their long march down the east coast.

The Asa Barnes Tavern in Marion, a.k.a. the Levi B. Frost House, together with a list of items owned by Barnes that was made after his death.

One theme of modern Connecticut history is the growth of private property and the loss of public spaces. Today, the tavern, known as the Levi B. Frost House, is on the National Register of Historic Places, but lies in private hands.

Also on the site, per Volpe, is a monument of another kind. Irish soldiers fought with Rochambeau and a monument to their sacrifices was erected on French Hill back in 1912, in a ceremony that involved Governor Simeon Baldwin, among other honored guests. The monument was the gift of the American-Irish Historical Society. Traffic and safety concerns mean that visitors to the site today need the owners’ permission.

For those interested in digging deeper into the area’s rich history, more events with historical focus are coming up over the coming months. A Jane’s Walk through historical sights in downtown Southington starts at the Barnes Museum on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. A talk about the life of Hannah Woodruff will be held at the Southington Public Library on May 21, at 6 p.m., also sponsored by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, named after Woodruff. On June 20, a Revolutionary War walking tour sets out from Oak Hill Cemetery at 10 a.m. More information — including a link at which to order Volpe’s new book — can be found at the Barnes Museum website: https://www.thebarnesmuseum.org/.